Comunicación y Gerencia The Challenge Introduction to The Apologetics Ministry of Calvary Chapel Corona
Outline Welcome & Introduction I. What is Apologetics? II. Apologetics & Evangelism III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? IV. How The Challenge is Organized V. What Will We Do? Conclusion (!)
Welcome & Introduction What s The Challenge? It has nothing to do with Fear Factor But have you ever been challenged in matters of faith? TIME FOR A POP QUIZ!
Welcome & Introduction
I. What Is Apologetics?
What is Apologetics? We re Not Sorry!
What is Apologetics? 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear defense = apologia
I. 1What Peter Is Apologetics? 3:15 apologia and be always prepared to give an answer to every one that asks DARBY being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you ASV Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks NIV Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you ISV and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you KJV Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks Message always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks NASB95
What is Apologetics? Jude 3 contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3
What is Apologetics? Definition A reasoned, logical defense of the faith.
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics: 1. Classical Method 2. Evidential Method 3. Cumulative Case Method 4. Presuppositional Model 5. Reformed Epistomolgy Types of Apologetics
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics 1. Classical Method: Miracles Not Needed Begins with natural theolgy theism as correct worldview. Natrual theology holds that knowledge of God can be acquired by human reason without the aid of divine revelation. Theism is the belief in God, or even gods. Higher power. Worldview: a particular philosophy or view of life. Presentation of historical evidence for deity of Christ, trustworthiness of scripture, etc., to show Christianity is the best version of theism. William Lane Craig, R.C. Sproul, Norm Geisler,
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics 2. Evidential Method: Miracles OK Very similar. Different in that it does not recognizes the same value of miracles (revelation) as evidence. Miracles do not presuppose God s existence (as the classicists would say) but they can serve as one sort of evidence for God. Focus is primarily on the legitamacy of accumulating various historical and other inductive arguments for the truth of Christianity. Gary Habernas, John W. Montgomery, Clark Pinnokc, Wolfhart Pannenberg.
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics 3. Cumulative Case Method: Use What You Can The nature of the case for Christianity is not in any strict sense a formal argument like a proof or an argument from probability. The case is more like the brief that a lawyer makes in a court of law, or that of a literary critic makes for the interpretation of a book. An informed argument that pieces together several types of data into a hypothesis or theory that better explains the data than any other competing therory. C.S. Lewis, C. Stephen Evans, Paul Feinberg, Basil Mitchell
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics 4. Presuppositional Model: God just is, doggone it! Not enough common ground between believers & unbelievers. The apologist must assume (presuppose) the truth of Christianity as the proper starting point. Christian revelation in Scripture is the framework through which all experience is interpreted and all truth is known. All meaning and thought logically presuppose the God of the Scriptures. We should present the biblical God, not merely as the conclusion to an argument, but as the one who makes the argument possible (John Frame) Francis Schaeffer, Greg Bahsen, John Frame
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Types of Apologetics 5. Reformed Epistomolgoy: God Just Feels Right! Usually, we are told that a belief must be supported by some kind of evidence or it is irrational to believe. R.E. holds it perfectly reasonable for a person to believe many things without evidence. Calvin: humans are born with an innate sensus divinatis (sense of the divine). RE s: therefore, people can come to faith without evidence. Encourage unbelievers to put themselves in situations where people are typically taken with belief in God, in order to awaken in them their latent sense of the divine. James Clark, others.
II. Apologetics & Evangelism
II. Apologetics & Evangelism 2 Timothy 2:23-26 26 But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Matthew 5:17-20 does and teaches
II. Apologetics & Evangelism Pre-Evangelism Evangelism Done by all Christians Anytime/Anyplace Content is Gospel Based on revelation States Gospel Goal is faith Pre-Evangelism Done by any Christian when needed Only if an objection is raised Content is all Christian doctrine Based on reason Clarifies Christian teaching Goal is understanding
II. Apologetics & Evangelism We re on a mission from God
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant?
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Our Culture is in Trouble As we approach the twenty-first century, It doesn t take a rocket scientist to recognize that our entire culture is in trouble. We are staring down the barrel of a loaded gun and we can no longer afford to act like it is loaded with blanks. J. P. Moreland, Love Your God with All Your Mind
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? And Looking For Answers In the midst of a generation screaming for answers, Christians are stuttering. Dr. Howard Hendricks, Dallas Theological Seminary
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Because of the World We Live In
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? We Have the Problem Of Pluralism
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? We Have the Problem Of Pluralism The belief that no single explanatory system or view of reality can account for all the phenomena of life.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant John Godfrey Saxe's ( 1816-1887) version of the famous Indian legend.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant It was six men of Indostan To learning much inclined Who went to see the Elephant (Though all of them were blind), That each by observation Might satisfy his mind.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The First approached the Elephant, And happening to fall Against his broad and sturdy side At once began to brawl: God bless me! but the elephant Is very like a wall!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The Second, feeling of the tusk Cried, Ho! what have we here, So very round and smooth and sharp? To me tis mightly clear This wonder of an Elephant Is very like a spear!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The Third approached the animal And happening to take The squirming trunk within his hands, Thus boldly up and spake: spake: I see, see, quoth he, the Elephant Is very like a snake!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The Fourth reached out an eager hand, And felt about the knee: What most this wondrous beast is like Is mighty plain, plain, quoth he; Tis Tis clear enough the Elephant Is very like a tree!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said: E en the blindest man Can tell what this resembles most; Deny the fact who can, This marvel of an Elephant Is very like a fan!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant The Sixth no sooner had begun About the beast to grope, Than, seizing on the swinging tail That fell within his scope. I see, see, quoth he, the Elephant Is very like a rope!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant And so these men of Indostan Disputed loud and long, Each in his own opinion Exceeding stiff and strong, Though each was partly in the right, And all were in the wrong!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant Moral
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Blind Men & The Elephant So oft in theologic wars, The disputants, I ween, Rail on in utter ignorance Of what each other mean, And prate about an Elephant Not one of them has seen!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Pluralism says All views are true!???? But if all views are true, then nothing is true!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Problems For Evangelism It is hard to proclaim the forgiveness of sins to people who believe that, since morality is relative, they have no sins to forgive. Gene Veith, Postmodern Times
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Evangelism in the 70 s
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Evangelism Today!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Intolerance Intolerance is a form of spiritual warfare. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Intolerance Intolerance is a form of spiritual warfare. But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded... 2 Corinthians 4:3
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Practical Suggestions for Evangelism 1. Allow others to discover the truth for themselves by asking them probing questions! 2. Find common ground with those you are trying to reach. 3. Build a bridge to others in order to share the gospel. 4. Recommit to a biblical view of faith. 5. Develop a greater passion and heart for the lost.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The Joy of Self Discovery We live in a world where people are reluctant to be told what is true, but may be willing, in some cases, to see for themselves (as in a mirror) the inconsistencies in what they believe. Dave Geisler
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? The fact is that most people do not like to be preached at!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? We need to make him think it was his idea!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Non-Overlapping Magisteria?
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Non-Overlapping Magisteria?
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Christianity by faith alone in Christ alone Islam by belief in Allah, his prophet Muhammad, and good works Hinduism by overcoming karma and incarnations with good works Buddhism by cessation of desire through the eight-fold path
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Rightly Handling the Word of Truth!
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Which Planks Can We Use?
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Why We Don t Have a Greater Heart for the Lost 1. We aren t totally convinced of the truth of Christianity! 2. We forget the urgency of the task. 3. We don t realize the degree to which we have been forgiven! 4. We don t think we can make a difference.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? Practical Suggestions for Evangelism 1. Allow others to discover the truth for themselves by asking them probing questions! 2. Find common ground with those you are trying to reach. 3. Build a bridge to others in order to share the gospel. 4. Recommit to a biblical view of faith. 5. Develop a greater passion and heart for the lost.
III. Why is The Challenge Relevant? It matters what you believe.
IV. How Is The Challenge Organized?
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Mission: Knowing God Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matt 11:29
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Mission: And Making God Known And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. Matt 28:18-20
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Method Know what we believe and why we believe it. Then, examining the same about others. Overcoming barriers, handling objections, earning the right to be heard.
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Weapons Prayer. Scripture. Logic, Critical Thinking, Questions
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Rules of Engagement Simple. Short. Sweet. Spirited.
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Knowing God 1. Preparation Do we know the Gospel? Do we know the basics of what we believe? Do we have a vibrant, living relationship with God? Are we familiar with extrabiblical reasons for faith?
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Knowing God 2. Develop a Greater Love for the Lost Conversational Evangelism made some excellent points: We must be convinced of the truth of Christianity We must not forget the urgency of the task. We must not forget how much we ve been forgiven. We can make a difference!
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? Knowing God 3. Commit to, Develop, and Share a Biblical Worldview www.barna.org
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? And Making God Known 1. Find Common Ground Ask the Lord where He wants to use you. Know about the issues of the day. Share the Gospel whenever possible it is the power of God!
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? And Making God Known 2. Use Logic, Critical Thinking, The Power of Questions, and Apologetics (pre-evangelism). To overcome barriers, handle objections, and earn the right to be heard. Logic tempers emotion, allowing us to get to the real issues. Critical thinking is a skill we can learn, which will put us way ahead of the average person. Questions allow people to discover the truth for themselves.
IV. How is The Challenge Organized? And Making God Known 3. Build A Bridge Of Truth To Reach The Lost Bible Answer Man: Springboards of opportunity. What are the planks we will use in our bridge? Our Credibility: Honesty, Integrity, Compassion, Love Our Authority: Relevance, Scripture, The Word of God Jesus is the ultimate plank!
V. What will The Challenge Do?
V. What Will The Challenge Do? None of this...
V. What Will The Challenge Do? Classes On the first Tuesday of each Month: April What Christians Believe (1) May What Christians Believe (2) June Calvary Distinctives July Logic, Critical Thinking, & Questions August, etc: TBD
V. What Will The Challenge Do? Topics We Might Cover Other religions/worldviews Catholicism, Protestants, Islam, Buddhism, etc. Secularism, Modernism, Post Modernism, etc Cults Jehovah s Witnesses, Mormonism, etc. Philosophy The Bible Where did it come from? Extrabiblical sources, archaeology, etc. Faith & The Workplace
V. What Will The Challenge Do? Other Special Events Debates (moderated) Show Videos of classic debates, lessons, etc. You guys up for some field work?
V. What Will The Challenge Do? Seeker Friendly But we won t call it BARF Night! Might be a good way for a new believer to get grounded. Maybe we can fine tune a message for the rest of the body!
Conclusion (!)